Defying mental illness: a study on the development of mental health in the Philippines

Abstract

Depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorders, schizophrenia and psychosis are just few of the mental health issues that are prevalent in the Philippines, wherein depression being the number one on the list. People who are depressed are seldom diagnosed that it increases the number of people who commit suicide because these people hardly ever speak up about their illness in the fear of being stigmatized. The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of well-being in which every individual comprehends his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. Despite the passage of a bill, mental health is still not prioritized in the country. There is still no protection for the patients outside of the rehabilitation centers. By comparing a public institution, Marikina Rehabilitation Center, and a private institution, Life Change Recovery Center, we will be able to distinguish the similarities and differences of the institutions. We will be able to determine what the importance of mental health is as we will go through history and development of mental health in the Philippines. The goal is to improve the mental health care in the Philippines. There are no shortcuts in order to make this possible. We must take little steps at a time in order to really create a well-thought and wellrendered optimum service to the patrons of governmental health care institutions.